An assignment can be described as a specific job, a specific course or a task that is given to someone. On most occasions, assignments are time bound and individuals are supposed to deliver them within the specified timelines. The term assignment is predominantly used by high school teachers (sometimes students order custom term paper from writing companies), and to a large extent, university lecturers and students. The term homework gradually loses its significance among the college students, and eventually, the term assignment takes precedence. While transitioning from high school to college or university writing, some students find it difficult at first to cope with many changes. Writing at the college level is indeed different, and instructors are also not as lenient as the ones in high school. Students are expected to make the transition fast, and some find themselves short of the quality that is required at the college level. However, with time, many get to understand the fundamental differences between the two levels and thus make the transition without much fuss.

The most basic instructions during assignment writing are reading and understanding the question. On many occasions, students start their assignments without first establishing the requirements of a task. The above is a recipe for disaster, and many clever students find themselves scoring below their expectations. If for example, an A student starts working on their task without comprehending the request at hand, the result would be discouraging and well below even the instructor`s expectations. This reinforces the credibility of the assertion that understanding the assignment is the first step to crafting an effective response to the instructor’s requirements.

Assignment Structure

College writing follows particular structures, and it is important to adhere to the rules of each. College assignments are of different types and include essays, case studies, reports, reviews, abstracts, annotated bibliographies, etc. All of the above have different structures, and students are expected to familiarize themselves with each. Combining different structures within an assignment is not acceptable, and students lose marks if found violating this requirement.

When reviewing many online assignment writing guides, one assignment writing tip seems to be included in almost all of them, and it involves drafting an outline before writing the final copy of the submission. Assignment outlines differ depending on the type of assignment given. However, drafting one gift the student with a clear structure which, if followed diligently can help with the inclusion of all the fundamentals a task requires. Creating an outline for an assignment is seen as redundant work by a significant portion of college students, but it is indeed of great importance. Some instructors are specific and ask students to include certain topics and sections, and without an outline, it would be easy to forget or leave some out.

Below is an example of an assignment outline:

Spreading the Message of Peace through Music

Introduction

The definition of music.

General facts about music. For example, one can mention how music has impacted the world before.

Thesis statement. Here the student can either support the use of music as a tool for peace or be against it, but one’s stance must be clear.

Main body/Discussion

Music has managed to connect people politically, emotionally, and socially.

Music had also united people and helped them to showcase certain commonalities regardless of ethnic backgrounds and race.

The use and impact of protest music, especially in the 1970s and the 80s.

The use of music to express one’s ideas and views regarding peace and the issues of war.

Use of music as a tool for mass awareness.

Conclusion

Reiteration of the writer’s thesis statement.

Summary of the essay’s main points.

Tips on Writing the Introduction

Once the outline is complete, the next step involves writing the introduction. Writing an introduction for an assignment could be a challenge for some students. A mistake in the introduction renders the entire assignment inaccurate and out of topic. Students should hence approach their introductions carefully and re-read the instructions before beginning their task. Below are some introduction writing tips:

Make the introduction direct and to the point –Make it easy for the readers to understand the topic under study.

Be brief but include enough information to invoke and maintain the readers’ interest.

Maintain consistency and avoid being ambiguous.

Tip on Writing the Thesis Statement

When writing the thesis statement, students often make the mistake of being to cliché, that is, they resort to some common phrases. The above habit leaves many readers disinterested in going through an entire essay or report. When writing a thesis statement for an assignment, it is essential to consider the following tips:

Narrow down the essay’s scope by stating a direct stance or the purpose of the essay, report or a case study.

Avoid being unoriginal and sticking to obvious statements such as “This article seeks to address…” or “The main argument of this report is to…”

Be clear and avoid being ambiguous.

Tips on Writing the Main Body

The body of an assignment or the discussion section mainly expounds on the writer’s stance or aims at supporting the thesis statement. Depending on the topic or the type of assignment given, students are encouraged to involve themselves in research to help enhance their work’s credibility. As already stated earlier, the different types of assignments follow different rules. Below are some tips on writing the main body:

Make use of topic sentences –Even though the thesis statement bears an article’s main argument, topic sentences are important and are used to present supporting an argument.

Research exhaustively –Citations improve a work’s credibility and to sufficiently and accurately cite an article, extensive research is needed.

Include supporting sentences that help to explain the topic sentences further while providing sufficient evidence on the argument.

Unless stated otherwise, the paragraphs should be five to six sentences long.

Students should also embrace the use of transition words – this help to alert the readers whenever the author introduces another point or is concluding their assignment.

Tips on Writing the Conclusion

Conclusions are never considered as challenging, but some students find themselves struggling to end their essays or reports. Below are some important tips on writing the conclusion:

Avoid combining the different structures of the different assignment papers. For example, students should not use the same conclusion style as report requires to conclude an essay.

Include a summary of the main points or the findings of research. While they may not use the same format, conclusions often provide summaries of the main arguments or points.

Finalizing Assignment

After completing the assignment, the next and final step involves assignment revision and proofreading. Before submitting the assignment, it is always advisable to re-read it again. However, the above should take place after taking a break from the assignment. This presents the student with the opportunity of reviewing their work while fresh. Proofreading is also similarly important. In assignment writing, mistakes such as grammatical errors, punctuation errors, and style errors are common. Proofreading an assignment before submitting helps to correct such errors and hence gifts a student with the opportunity of scoring high marks.

Tips on good assignment writing:

Carefully assess the grading rubric to understand how the assignment will be graded, and which sections are prioritized.

Start the task early. This gives one enough time to research, write, and proofread their work before submission.

Study the task and never start before all the aspects of the assignment are clear.

Seek the clarification of the instructor if the question is not clear.

Create an outline for the assignment.

Begin with a draft.

Conduct an exhaustive research.

Take notes while researching.

Revise or edit and proofread the assignment before the final submission.